Noh joins South Korean roll of honour with US triumph

Noh Seung-yul is doused in beer by Yang Yong-eun after winning the Zurich Classic. Picture: Getty

ANDREW BOTH

Noh Seung-yul became the fourth South Korean player to win on the PGA Tour when he captured the $6.8 million Zurich Classic of New Orleans by two strokes.

Wearing a black ribbon on his cap in memory of the more than 300 victims of the recent Korean ferry sinking, Noh displayed composure beyond his 22 years when he carded a one-under-par 71 in strong winds at the TPC Louisiana.

“Dreams come true,” Noh said after collecting $1.22m (£725,000) for his first tour victory.

He always held at least a share of the lead during the final round and finished at 19-under 269, while Americans Andrew Svoboda (69) and Robert Streb (70) tied for second on 17-under.

Noh won at the same tournament where trailblazer K J Choi 12 years ago became the first Korean to win on the PGA Tour. Choi now has eight victories, while countrymen Yang Yong-eun (two) and Bae Sang-moon (one) have also won.

American Kevin Na, who was born in South Korea but moved to the US at a young age, also has one victory.

Noh was home in Korea visiting his family when the ferry sank on 16 April. He was in a sombre mood as he heard the news unfold, but returned to the US soon afterwards to refocus on his golf.

“All the TV, all the people, everything focus on ferry and then all the people very quiet down, so same as me,” said Noh, who has thought about winning at the highest level since he was a boy.

“When I start playing golf at age seven always my dream is playing PGA Tour, playing major championships, but my dream’s come true today so I’m really really happy now.”

Noh arrived in the Big Easy ranked 176th in the world, but his lowly status belied his recent consistent form and his victory was not the huge shock it might appear to some. He negotiated the first 54 holes without dropping a shot to take a two-stroke lead over American Keegan Bradley into the final round.

A bogey at the first hole ended his unblemished streak, and after two holes he had fallen into a three-way tie for the lead with Bradley and Streb.

Bradley subsequently fell away with a triple-bogey at the sixth hole and then Streb double-bogeyed the par-3 ninth after hooking his tee shot into a water hazard.

But Noh could not breathe easily until he birdied the 16th hole from three feet after nearly holing his approach shot.

A 12-foot par save at the par-3 17th then allowed him to enjoy a victory march down the last.